This week I am kind of combining gardening and birding. I don’t know which hobby is more enjoyable, so when I get a chance to combine them, I am happy.
As a Master Gardener, I find myself frequently involved in discussions about good bugs and bad bugs. The truth of the matter is that there are no good or bad bugs. Both have their place in the big ecological picture. The fact is most are valuable pollinators of fruit, vegetables and flowers, or they are valuable recyclers.
It is also true that insects such as spider mites, scales, borers, leaf miners and aphids are considered pests. These pests are responsible for defoliating, weakening or even killing our valuable garden plants. Understanding and managing pests is therefore a big part of successful gardening.
What methods should be used to control these pests? Most of us would agree that, if possible, a non-chemical method is probably best. If, however, you choose chemicals, it is never wise to use a wide spectrum pesticide. These chemicals kill everything, good or bad, that is unlucky enough to get near. There is the electric bug zapper, which by the way is also not a good thing. These electric assassins indiscriminately kill anything that flies into the grid, many of them helpful creatures.
A better way is to roll out the red carpet to the beneficials. Predatory ladybugs, lacewings, flower flies, assassin bugs, dragonflies, mantids, parasitic wasps and spiders are all natural enemies of pests. They are also easily attracted to your garden if you cultivate magnet plants.
Yes, you can purchase ladybugs, lacewings and parasitic wasps from a bio-supplier, but releasing them at the right time in the predator-prey cycle is very tricky, and most often a complete failure. Save your money, attract natural controllers for free.
Magnet plants generally belong to the mint, carrot and daisy family.
As a bonus, most mints offer nectar for hummingbirds, and daisies develop seeds for the songbirds.
While we are talking about natural attractants, be aware that because of the hybridizing of so many of our beautiful flowers, the scents that attract are often gone. The plants that really attract are the old fashioned favorites that have lots of small flowers.
I will mention as many native plants as possible. You should also be aware that some of these plants are very invasive.
The first beneficial insect group is the Mantids. Two important species, the European mantid--commonly known as the praying mantis-- and the widely distributed Chinese mantid are the best known. Mantid eggs overwinter in walnut-size paper cases attached to vegetation. Some mantids get big enough to very rarely capture a hummingbird.
The second group is the flower flies. Syrphid or flower flies mimic bees in appearance and behavior. Their larvae prey on aphids. Adults visit small nectar-rich flowers such as dill, fennel, spearmint and goldenrod.
The third group is wasps. Most adult parasitic wasps are smaller than a pinhead. Tiny trichogramma wasps, ichneumons, braconids and chalcids often deposit their eggs within the eggs of host insects. The parasitic Trichogramma wasp larva develop inside the tomato hornworm caterpillar and emerge to spin cocoons on its skin. Adults fly away as the host caterpillar dies. Yellow Marigolds, Anthemis, fennel and Queen Anne’s lace attract parasitic wasps.
The fourth group is ladybugs. The familiar black-spotted red beetles that resemble a miniature Volkswagon, as well as their larvae, which mimic tiny alligators, and are just as ferocious, consume aphids, scale and any other soft bodied sucking insect. Each ravenous larvae will consume about four hundred aphids in the month long larval stage. Ladybugs like morning glory, honeysuckle vines, cosmos and buckwheat.
The fifth group, lacewings and their larvae, dine on aphids, mealybugs, scales and spider eggs. They seem to love caraway, tansy, and cosmos. Planting these plants in garden edges also attract the beneficial pirate bugs that consume thrips and mites. These plants also hide ambush and assassin bugs, which lie in wait for unsuspecting prey.
The sixth group, spiders, (not technically insects), are eight legged friends and active predators. They eat flea beetles and other damaging insects. Predatory wolf and jumping spiders reside in mulched areas. Flower spiders can even change colors to match their surroundings. They seem to like plants in the daisy family best.
Beneficial flowers and shrubs include the following: Anise, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Parsley, Queen Anne’s Lace, Yarrow, Anthemis, Aster, Black Eyed Susan, Coneflower, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Chrysanthemum, Daisy, Goldenrod, Marigold, Tansy, Zinnia, Anise Hyssop, Basil, Bee Balm, Sage, Spearmint, and Thyme.
Eliminate chemicals, plant magnets.
